How to Clean Upholstery

17 January 2022

Not sure how to clean upholstery in your home or workplace? We’ve put together some simple, environmentally-friendly ways to keep your upholstery spotless. 


Upholstery refers to the materials (including the fabric and springs) that make up furniture such as chairs and sofas. They can be notoriously difficult to clean and chemical based cleaning products can stain the porous surfaces. 


As always, we recommend trying a spot test in a hidden area before trying a new cleaning method on your upholstery.


At MMCS Commercial Cleaning, our trained staff use environmentally-friendly products to make your property sparkle around your schedule.
Find out more about our range of services across Northumberland and the north east here.


How to Clean Upholstery


How to clean upholstery with baking soda


Baking soda is a great quick way to refresh your upholstery and remove any odours without using any artificial scents.


Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over the furniture and leave for thirty minutes.


After thirty minutes, use a vacuum with a small attachment to remove all residue. 


If any odours remain, repeat the process and leave the baking soda on for up to one hour. 


How to clean upholstery with vinegar


If your upholstery has an ‘S’ on the tag, then you’ll be able to use stronger natural cleaners such as vinegar to remove stains.


Take a clean cloth and dip it into a mixture of one part white vinegar with two parts warm water. 


Gently scrub at the stain in circular motions until the stain disappears. 


Use a soft dry cloth to soak up any additional moisture.


How to clean upholstery with washing up liquid


Washing up liquid is a handy way to clean stubborn marks on upholstery. 


Mix one teaspoon of washing up liquid (try clear washing up liquid if your upholstery is a light colour) into a bowl of warm water.


Whisk the mixture until bubbles, known as suds, begin to form.


Apply the suds gently to a stubborn stain using a spoon or a spatula. Use a soft microfibre cloth to gently brush the suds into the fabric.


Once the stain starts to fade, wipe over with a clean damp cloth ensuring that the fabric doesn’t get too wet.


How to disinfect upholstery


Chemicals such as bleach will stain upholstery. We recommend using
airburst; the ultimate disinfectant system to safely disinfect your upholstery.


Airburst generates a fine mist of environmentally friendly disinfectant (hypochlorous acid) that safely disinfects soft porous furnishings such as upholstery and carpets.


Safe for people, pets and the planets, purchase your
airburst system here.

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29 January 2023
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